Quotes from Gilbert K. Chesterton

CIVILISATION is not to be judged by the rapidity of communication, but by the value of what is communicated.

It is the first law of practical courage. To be in the weakest camp is to be in the strongest school.

children are simply human beings who are allowed to do what everyone else really desires to do, as for instance, to fly kites, or when seriously wronged to emit prolonged screams for several minutes.

The dignity of the artist lies in his duty of keeping awake the sense of wonder in the world.

When people begin to ignore human dignity, it will not be long before they begin to ignore human rights.

Americans are a very backward people, with all the real virtues of a backward people; the patriarchal simplicity and human dignity of a democracy, and a respect for labor uncorrupted by cynicism.

The unconscious democracy of America is a very fine thing. It is a true and deep and instinctive assumption of the equality of citizens, which even voting and elections have not destroyed.

How you think when you lose determines how long it will be until you win.

People talk of the pathos and failure of plain women; but it is a more terrible thing that a beautiful woman may succeed in everything but womanhood.

A dead thing goes with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it.

Hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all. And faith means believing the incredible, or it is no virtue at all.

Faith is always at a disadvantage; it is a perpetually defeated thing which survives all conquerors.

People generally quarrel because they cannot argue.

For fear of the newspapers politicians are dull, and at last they are too dull even for the newspapers.

All true friendliness begins with fire and food and drink and the recognition of rain or frost.

Just the other day in the Underground I enjoyed the pleasure of offering my seat to three ladies.

Because our expression is imperfect we need friendship to fill up the imperfections.

We can be almost certain of being wrong about the future, if we are wrong about the past.